07/20/2026
Coal Mining Excellence: 250 Years of building a Nation (Part 4) - During World War I, U.S. coal production reached a record 680 million short tons in 1918, driven by the demands of a global conflict.
Coal was essential to the war effort, powering naval fleets, generating electricity, fueling coke production, and supporting munitions manufacturing across the country.
As European coal output declined due to wartime destruction and workforce losses, the United States emerged as the world’s leading coal producer.
To meet urgent demand, mining expanded rapidly across Appalachia and the Midwest, with major growth in states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Alabama.
The federal government took direct action to secure energy supplies. In 1917, the Lever Act established the U.S. Fuel Administration, which regulated coal prices and wages to stabilize production during wartime.
This moment marked a major shift in the coal industry, strengthening its role in national security, industrial output, and America’s position on the global stage.